Cattle fly trap



.1 d/azy INVENTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1938. A H. E. suDLOW CATTLE FLY TRAP Filed O01). 26, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l rely 2z Jaw/@f5 l@ @y EW gy H. E. SUDLOW Dec. 27, 1938.

CATTLE ,FLY TRAP s sheets-sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1937 ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1938.

H. E. SUDLOW CATTLE FLY TRAP Filed Oct. 26, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES ori i Claims.

This inventionrelates to cattle fly traps and has for an object first to provide a device of this character in which the live stock may move through and be deflied, and second, to provide apparatus adapted to destroy insects electrically or by impounding and starvation.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a light-entrance opening in the roof toward which the ies will rise and lodge against an electrocuting device or as an alternative, will be trapped in a screen trap, for automatic destruction by starvation.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described andrclaimed, it being understood that various modications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.V

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this'specication,

Figure l is an yend elevation of a trap constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure Zis a cross sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l showing the nested springs rfor closing the door sides.

Figure 3 is a cross sectionalview taken on the line 34-3 of Figure 1 showing two lines of the rope or string portions of the fabric door. t

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line li-ll of Figure 1 showing the overlapping lower inside edges of the door sides.

Figure 5 is a vertical vsectional view of the covered chute and showing the electrocuting de vice at the top of the chute.

i Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of the' electrocuting device taken on the line 8-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of a different form of the device from Figure l, taken on the line 'i4-'1 of Figure 10 looking toward the high frame wall of the trap.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional View taken on Vthe line 8-8 of Figure 'l looking toward the screen trap and light opening at the top of the device.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the screenr trap.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line l-lil of Figure 7. I

Figure 11 is a front elevation of a wall of the trap with a door side folded for transportation.

Figure 12 is an elevation of the door side showing the same folded back and hooked against the chute wall.

Figure 13 is a detail sectional View showing the chain, spring and pulley for yieldably supporting aV door side at the top.

Figure 14 isa longitudinal sectional view of the trap folded for transportation.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of the electrocuti'ng device.

Figure 16 is a cross sectional view taken on the line iii-I6 of Figure 14.

Figure 17 is a sectional view showing the use l of a stabilizer built for setting up the closed top chute in a desired location.

/ Figure 18 is a plan view of the chutes and trap shown in Figure 1 and showing the open top chutes at the entrances of the closed top chute. if]

Figure 19 is a detail sectional view showing the edgesV of the curtains as being ballon shape.

Referring now to the drawings inwhich like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, l0V designates corner posts. Parallel side walls ll preferably formed of tongue and groove boards nailed to transverse bars I2, are secured to the posts by lag screws 9, as best shown in Figure 2. One wall is higher than the other, as best shown in Figure l and between these walls the live stock to `be deflied will pass.

As best shown in Figures l and 5 a cover I3 is hinged as shown at I4 to the high wall and slopes downwardly to the rear wall. A bar l5 is secured to the underneath face of the cover by :ao bolts I6, as best shown in Figure 5. From this bar an inverted U-door top section l1 is suspended, the section being inverted as best shown in Figure 7, the falls of the section hanging down from opposite sides of the bar in spaced relationship to engage the upper parts of an animal passing between the walls. f

As best shown in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 7 a pair of door sides la, formed of comparatively stiff waterproof fabric material such as heavy rubau berized duck or the like, are hinged by fabric hinges I9 to the walls il. The door sides overlap as shown at 26 at the bottom and may be cut away above the overlapped portions as shown at 2i to lessen wear and pulling out of shape, and 1. .'l to receive between them a cord apron 22. The door sides 2li and cord apron 22 brush flies off the animals.

The door sides are suspended at the inner top from the walls by means of chains 23, of the 5o general type shown in Figure 13, the chain of each curtain passing over a pulley 2t on one of the walls i l and being terminally equipped with a spring which issecured to the other wall Il to yieldably tension the door side tops.

When an animal passes betweenl the walls I I the overlapped portions 20 of the door sides aid in preserving darkening effect which taken with proper lights above dislodges iiies from the legs and belly, while the rope apron 22 is pushed out of way. The door sections will be returned to initial position after passage of each animal ready for the next de-flying operation by the door closers 21.

Each door side section has a transversely disposed closed loop 25 formed therein near the top of the overlapping portion 2li. A helical spring 2l of relatively large diameter is disposed in the loop near the wall acting as a door closer while a helical spring 28 of comparatively small diameter is telescopically received in the spring 2'I and projects to near centerof chute transversely so spring ends will pass each other freely. Thus the hinged portions of the sides will be stiffer than the free edge portions so that the free edge portions may permit leg passage while permitting passage of a minimum of light.

Preferably the inner edgeportions of the door sides above are ballooned out as shown at 29 in Figure 19, this structure being produced by forming rather large hems in the upright edges of the curtains.

As will best be observedV by referring to Figure 7 the cover I3 is provided with light entrance openingsV 3E) on opposite sides of the bar I5. An electric light 3l is suspended above the light entrance openings for night use and for dark days. A bracket 32 supports the light, and is attached to a transformer case, in this instance, which is secure-d to the high wall near the top thereof. Flies rising. in the covered chute to the light entrance openings may be either electrocuted by an electrocution device, shown best in Figure 15 or may be trapped by a wire mesh trap, shown best in Figure 9, for destruction by starvation.

The electrocution device comprises a frame 34 which is equipped at the end with steel angle plates 35 provided with openings 36 to receive the bar I5. The angle plates are bolted to the side walls II at the top thereof on opposite sides of the bar. AV plurality of conductor wires 31 are disposed transversely of the frame, near enough together to prevent a fly passing therebetween. The Wires may be alternately grounded and live wires to form circuit terminals of theelectro-I outing circuit. Any other type of electrocution device may be used.

The fly trap may be substituted for the electrocuting device. The fly trap comprises a wire mesh open bottom traps 38, which admits live flies on the wing, but prevents their eXit. As best shown in Figure 9, the trap is provided at the bottom with bars 39, which may be bolted to the cover I3,- in position to permit the files escaping upwardly through the light entrance openings 30, to enter the trap. The trap is larger at the top than at the bottom so that the flies will drop out as they die.

To collapse the device for transportation or storage the walls II are removed from the posts. The door sides i8 are then folded back against the walls and hooked over hooks iii in the walls. 'Ihe hinged cover I 3 is folded down and the low wall is placed against outside of high wall. The collapsed parts are then bolted together by bolts 42, and cleats are secured to the sides. Y

To set up the device as best shown in Figure 17, the low wall I I is first set upon two of the posts I twenty-rive inches' apart and bolted thereto'. 'I'hen a bolt 44 is passed through the .is then swung into position upon the walls, it

having previously been swung up before the walls Aare put in place.

Preferably the high wall II is provided with screened openings 45 at the top thereof to admit light to the top of the (ie-flying covered chute so that the flies rising from below will follow their host to the brighter light at roof opening where they will either be electrocuted or trapped in the screen trapI as above described.

A most important feature of the invention is shown in Figure 18 in which a pair of parallel yopaque walls 46 are disposed on opposite sides and at each end of the entrances to the covered chute. These Vopaque walls are secured to the walls il and to posts 131. They extend upwardly from the ground to substantially or 6 feet' on sun side and 4 or more on opposite sides and provide a darkened space between them. These walls constitute the beginning of a light and shadow Ycontrol which removes flies from cattle during passage through the series of chutes and landsrthese insects either against an electrified screen or an impounding` trap.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. A de-flying chute for animals comprising side walls between which the animal may pass, a top connected to the side walls and having an opening for admitting light to attract Yflies upwardly between the side walls, flexible sectional door sides secured to the walls having the lower portions overlapped, springs in the overlapping portions of the door sides for closing the sides to rub iiies off the legs of an animal, an inverted U-door top section suspended from the top and overlapping the door side upper ends,v and means on said top for destroying fiies rising to said light admitting opening.

2. The structure as in claim l in which said springs are each formed of a short spring secured at one end to one wall and a smaller spring telescoped into the short spring whereby the free edge of the door is more iiexible than the secured edge of the door. I

3. A de-flying chute for animalscomprising spaced walls between which the animal to be deflied may pass, a top connected to the walk, ilexible sectional fabric door sides hingedly connected at the outer edges to the walls and having overlapped lower ends, tension means supporting the inner upper edges of the door sides at the top upon the walls and permitting the door sides to yield to a passing animal while preventing any light frorn appearing between it and said door sides, means tensioning the lower overlapped ends of the door sides for admitting a minimum .of light during leg passage, light admitting openings in said top and in the top of one of the walls inducing flies to abandon darkened areas for those areas best lighted at high levels, and means on the top for destroying the flies.

4. A de-iiying chute for animals comprising a top having a light admittingY opening, spaced walls between which the animals tobe de-lied may pass, flexible door sides hinged at the outer edgesy to the walls, the lower ends of the door sides being overlapped, resilient means supporting the door sides at the upper ends upon the Walls, resilient means carried by said overlapped portions of the door sides for controlling the sides to brush off illes from the legs of an animal, a

cord apron between the door sides, means on the top communicating with said opening for destroying flies, and an open top chute at each end of the side Walls extending in prolongation of said Walls.

HENRY E. SUDLOW. 

